A Small Shift in Mindset that could Change the World
What we should believe to enable positive change
A fairly common human yearning is to create a legacy, leaving footprints on the sands of time. Along with fame and riches, many of us seek in life the confidence and ability to make the world a better place. This impulse is felt most strongly when one is young.
Notwithstanding this common urge that moves so many of us, the puzzle remains as to why it is so difficult to follow through on this desire and why is any meaningful change so hard to achieve. And I don’t mean anything momentous, quite the contrary, simple things for example promoting and establishing courtesies and basic norms such as standing in queues, wearing masks in public (to prevent spread of coronavirus), not honking horns, not using polythene bags, not spitting or urinating in public places, always disposing trash in a dustbin, driving in lanes, not jumping red lights and so on. We Indians usually lack these elementary civilities making everyday life difficult for us and leading to a lot of frustration and rage.
I believe the answer lies in our inability to act upon our convictions that defy common practices which we know to be erroneous. We justify this tendency by saying, “What is the point. I am but an individual, hardly any difference will be made by my actions alone, so why bother. Unless everyone else is also doing it, whatever I may do, it will ultimately be pointless”. Therefore, every one of us is forever waiting for someone else to start and do the right thing.
Having convinced ourselves of the futility of making concerted effort in this direction we usually give up. Gradually this attitude is internalised and we become accustomed to accepting things as they are, no longer challenging them. As we grow older, we are no longer passionate or energetic enough, increasingly certain that we were correct in not attempting anything ‘foolish’. After all, things have always been like this and they will be in the future too. It is my ardent wish that Indians born in the 21st century are able to overcome this limitation that prevented generations before them from taking concrete action. I hope that this generation of Indians are able to do the right thing without being too bothered by whatever others (a huge majority) are doing.
While it is true that a substantial number of people need to alter their attitudes and behaviour, welcome and support any good move to bring about a significant transformation. It is equally true that one individual with faith can move mountains. It is rightly said that the world is short of just one person willing to make a difference. If we really want to, we can indeed achieve a lot.
Remarkable and historic acts like abolishing the offensive practice of Sati where women were forced to join their deceased husbands on the funeral pyre, promotion of widow remarriage and abolishing untouchability, were all the results of efforts made by committed individuals. Sure, each of these took a long time to achieve, a phenomenal amount of struggle, involvement of numerous other concerned people to translate these actions into mass movements, and support through legislative interventions. Yet the fact remains that these reforms were initiated, popularized, sustained and brought to fruition through individual efforts, most significantly of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Mahatma Gandhi respectively. But none of this would have happened if they had accepted the status quo and not displayed resolute courage in the face of insurmountable odds. Society is what it is today because millions of individuals laboured, with nary a care for name or fame, to improve it.
There are innumerable other examples similar to this that can inspire us, slightly rephrasing the famous quote from Mahatma Gandhi, ‘to be the change we wish to see in the world’. The only prerequisite is that we start thinking of ourselves not merely as one inconsequential individual, instead we must begin to see ourselves as flagbearers of a positive shift. Only then will others believe in us, support us and join in to make the desired transition possible.
It is imperative that the youth be infused with the belief that — I have in me whatever it takes. They need to be empowered with a level of self-confidence that gives them the courage to act alone whenever necessary. Not being afraid to be the first, or the only one doing something that would yield beneficial outcomes for the many. Not being cowed down by stinging criticism or majority ridicule. To stand alone without feeling alone, to have the conviction that whatever others do is for them to answer, that someone somewhere has to begin, and starting now that someone will be me. That once I change, the world will too. Slowly but surely others will support me in doing the right thing, few will do that right away, more following later. Most importantly, independent of what others think or do, I shall be undeterred, my actions whether alone or as part of a small minority shall herald an encouraging change.
This small shift in mindset is the only way for us to proceed and be able to truly change India and the world in the hope for a kinder, more inclusive and happier future for all.
